Sliding tub desk file cabinet and mounting therefor



Nov. 22, 1966 E. A, DAHL, JR

SLIDING TUB DESK FILE CABINET AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed July 7, 1964 INVENTOR. wi Q /7M J7? BY JE w c? United States Patent O 3,286,651 -SLIDING TUB DESK FILE CABINET AND MOUNTING THEREFGR Ernest A. Dahl, Jr., 729 Greenwood Ave., Wilmette, Ill. Filed July 7, 1964. Ser. No. 380,847 7 Claims. (Cl. 1041-126) The present invention relates to a sliding t-ub desk file container or the like, and more specifically to a unique arrangement for guiding such a container in a predetermined direction along a readily demountable floor track and for delimiting movement of the container along such a track.

Thus, a prime object of the invention is to provide an improved sliding tile container and an arrangement for guiding such a container in a predetermined direction along a readily demountable oor track.

Another object is to provide means in such an arrangement for deli-miting movement of the container along the track.

The problem and prior art decences In the operation of a business today as never before, business men are finding it critical to keep accurate records of all the varied aspects of business transactions. Heretofore a few records, relating perhaps to costs and sales,'we're -suflicient for the average business. Today, however, the complexity .of modern .businesses, the increased requirements of state and federal governments demanding accurate information relating to possibly taxable transactions, and the executives necessity for detailed information relating to profits and los-ses of each step of the operation all lend their weight to support the necessity of more business records.

While a considerable part of the -record keeping process is taken care of by modern electronic equipment, the role of the operators managing and operating such recordkeeping equipment has increased, rather than decreased in importance. Hence, manufacturers of business .machines are called upon to provide equipment which eases the work-load of the operators, which increases their eiiiciency and accuracy by enabling them to work at high speeds with a minimum of motion.

One of the pieces of record maintenance equipment widely used in business today is the tub desk `file container or cabinet, commonly manufactured at about waist height of a seated individuaiand serving as an open top le and storage cabinet -for various business records permitting an individual to quickly reach into the cabinet and pick out a desired record,

Unfortunately, the efficiency and `speed of operators commonly using the record container is limited to great degrees by the reach of their arms. To reach a particular record on the ends of the vcabinet or on the opposite side from the operator might require stretching, :shifting of the body, bending over the cabinet or actually rising from a seated position. Of necessity, such manne-vers on the operators part has caused a loss in speed, tired the operator and resulted in a lowered efficiency.

Placing the file cabinet on wheels would be of some assistance provided the particular records desired in a pa-rticular period of time could be confined to one area of the container; unfortunately, because of other business considerations, this is not usually possible. Hence, merely providing wheels on such a file container has not been of any great value to date.

The structure in accordance with the present invention includes a :sliding tub desk or le cabinet mounted :for rolling movement along a track with means being provided for guiding the container along the track; means also being provided for demountably securing the track to a base support surface or door; and with unique stop ICC means being provided on the track for delimiting movement of the container along the track.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a novel arrangement for a unique sliding tub desk or le container wherein the sliding container is guided along a base track.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel track or guideway suitable for readily demountable attachment to a base supporting surface.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a track which is adaptable for use with the sliding container of the invention and wherein stop means are provided on the track to delimit movement of the container.

These and other objects of the invention will become clear by reference to t-he following disclosure and drawing, forming a part thereof wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention showing its relationship to other items of business equipment and to an operator thereof;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the novel sliding support means for the le container taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view on a larger scale of the floor track and stop means illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-*4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a lfront elevational view showing the iioor track of the present invention with the manner in which it is secured to the floor being more clea-rly shown.

For a better understanding of t-he invention, reference is now had to FIG. 1 showing an embodiment of the invention in its relationship to other business equipment and to an operator therefor. The operator is shown in seated position with va-rious items of electronic business equipment, with one arm outstretched removing a file card fr-om a file container.

An open top tub desk lor file container 10 is shown having a forward end 11 and a rear end 12 secured to two sides 14 with a bottom panel, not shown, secured between the sides and the end-s of the container. The le container is adapted for storage of various printed filing cards, invoices, sales records, or the like and is seen to include antifriction means, adapted to contact a horizontal support plane, suitably mounted to the bottom of the container.

The antifriction means include a pair of wheels 16 pivotally secured to the one -side of the container and a second pair of wheels 18 pivotally secured to the other side of the container.

The manner in which the Wheels are secured to the container is more clearly seen in FIG. 2 with a wheel support bracket 20 shown secured to a structural member of the container, which may be a cross bar, corner angle arms, or the like, by pin 22.

The wheels are secured to the support bracket 20 by an axle 24. The outer rims of the wheels may be formed advantageously of resilient elastomeric material such as rubber. Wheels 18 have a circumferential groove 26, FIG. 2, the groove being adapted to lit over a floor track to be hereafter described. The wheels 16 on the other side of the container may be conventionally rounded or may be circumferentially grooved, as is the case with wheels 18 enabling reversal of the container so that the container may be turned around or may be merely shifted laterally with respect to the track.

A track for the circumferentially grooved wheels is provided, FIG. 3, comprising an elongated rail or track 28 of a predetermined length and having two outer flanges 30 and a central protuberance 32 connecting the anges, the protuberance 32 being upwardly extending and being shaped generally complementary to the shape of the wheels. The central protuberance 32, seen in cross section in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, is shaped convexly arcuate or generally semicircular in cross section so as to present a relatively low vertical obstacle to individuals who may have occasion to cross the rail.

The rail 28 is demountable from the base support plane, in this instance the fioor, the channel being secured to the floor by a length of tape 33 coated with a pressuresensitive adhesive on both sides for adhesive securement of the rail to the oor.

A preferred type of tape utilized to secure the rail to the fioor comprises Mylar double-pressure sensitive adhesively coated plastic tape, available commercially from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Corporation as Mylar Tape No. Y-900l.

A pair of resilient wheels stops 34 are fixedly secured to the rail, spaced apart to delimit movement of the container along the rail. A stop 34, FIG. 3, includes a channel having two outwardly extending wings 36 which are xedly secured to a flange of the rail 28 advantageously by welding. The stop comprises the two wings 36 connected to a pair of upstanding substantially vertical anges 38 and a web 40 secured between the two anges. The web 40 is seen to be of substantially greater width than the wings, extending transverse the central protuberance of the rail to present a wide resilient stop mounting surface. A resilient stop 42, advantageously formed of elastomeric material such as rubber, is secured to the upper portion of the web, that is, the upper stop-mounting surface or web 40, the elastomeric stop being positioned to resiliently engage the circumferentially grooved wheels.

The stops 34, FIG. l are seen to be centrally positioned with respect to the two ends of the rail so as to always be in position below the container rather than outwardly of the container where the stops might present an obstacle to individuals moving about the rail.

Having now described the invention with respect to its structure, its mode of operation will be explained for a clearer understanding thereof. A sliding tub desk wheeled cabinet or le container has been provided having a pair of circumferentially grooved wheels pivotally secured subjacent one side of the container, the circumferential groove of the wheels being adapted for movement over a fioor track.

A floor track is provided, which may be an extruded aluminum channel track having a convexly arcuate upwardly extending protuberance adapted for receipt of the wheels to guide the wheels along the track. The track is adhered to the iioor with double-pressure sensitive adhesive tape so as to be readily positioned in place and to be quickly detached from the base support surface without injury to the surface.

Two wheel stops are provided to delimit movement of the container along the track, the stops being centrally positioned between ends of the track so as not to interfere with movement of individuals in the area over the track.

An operator of business machines is seated at one side of the container in position to operate various items of business equipment and also to pick particular records from the sliding container. Since the container is slidably guided along the track, it is a simple matter for the operator to reach records at one end of the container or the other by simply exerting a slight amount of pressure on the container to move the container slidably along the track forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the ends of the track.

The container slides readily along the track, the stops provided centrally on the track preventing the container from sliding out of reach of the operator.

Since the container is mounted on wheels, it may be readily moved from one position to another in the room by merely moving the container transversely with respect to the track where it is free to move.

Since many modifications of the invention described above and illustrated in the various figures may be made, the invention should not be limited thereto; and it is thus contemplated by the appended claims to cover any modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A storage system for file cards and the like comprising; a storage container, first and second anti-friction means connected to the bottom of said container, said first antifriction means comprising first and second rollers positioned subjacent one side of said container, said rollers having a circumferential groove therein, a rail means removably secured to a fioor means and being adapted to engage and to maintain said first antifriction means in a predetermined path, said rail means being shaped complementary to the groove of said rollers for rolling engagement of the rollers over said rail means, and stop means fixedly secured to the rail means intermediate said rollers to limit travel of said container along said rail means, said second antifriction means being adapted to directly engage said oor means and to travel in the same direc-tion as said first antifriction means.

2. A storage means for file cards and the like, comprising; a container means, first and second wheels rotat-l ably mounted on a first side of said container means for rolling engagement with a support plane, third and fourthwheels rotatably mounted on an opposite side of said container means, said third and fourth wheels each having a circumferential groove, a rail removably secured to a horizontal support plane by pressure sensitive adhesive tape means and being adapted to engage said third and fourth wheels, said rail having two outer flanges and a central protuberance connecting said flanges, said protuberance having a convexly arcuate shape generally complementary to the shape of said circumferential groove for rolling engagement of said grooved wheels over said rail, said protuberance preventing said wheels from moving transversely with respect to said rail, and resilient stop means secured to said rail intermediate said third and fourth wheels to limit movement of said container means forwardly and rearwardly along said rail.

3. A storage means for file cards and the like comprising; a container means, first and second anti-friction means mounted on the bottom of said container means, said antifriction means being adapted to run along a rail means in a predetermined direction, said rail means being removably secured by connection means to a horizontal support plane, said connection means to secure said rail means to said support plane comprising tape means, said tape means underlying said rail means, said tape means being coated on two sides with a pressure sensitive adhesive to secure the tape means to the support plane and the rail means, said adhesive being activated by exerting pressure on said tape between the rail and the support plane, and stop means iixedly secured to the rail means to limit travel of said container along said rail means.

4. A storage means for file cards and the like comprising; a storage container, a first and a second antifriction means connected to said container, said first antifriction means comprising first and second rollers positioned subjacent one side of said container, and rail means removably secured to a horizontal support plane by pressure sensitive tape means, said rollers each having a circumferential groove in engagement with said rail means.

v5. A storage means for file cards and the like comprising; a storage container for records, a first and a second antifriction means connected to said container, said first and second antifriction means being adapted to engage rail means to guide said storage container in a predetermined direction, said rail means having an outer flange with tape means underlying said flange to Secure said rail to a support plane, said tape means being coated on two sides with a pressure sensitive adhesive to secure the tape means to the support plane and to secure the rail to the tape means, and a pair of resilient stops secured to the flange of said rail means, said stops being spaced apart along the rail means and being positioned intermediate said first and second antifriction means to delimit travel of said container along said rail.

6. In a storage system for file cards and the like, comprising; a storage container, first and second wheels rotatably mounted on a first side of said container for rolling engagement with a support plane, third and fourth wheels rotatably mounted on a second side of said container, said third and fourth wheels having a circumferential groove therein, a rail removably secured to a horizontal support plane and being adapted to engage said third and fourth wheels, said rail having ange means having an upper and a lower side and a central protuberance, said lower side being generally planar and adapted to be secured to said support plane, said protuberance having a convexly arcuate shape generally complementary to the shape of said circumferential groove for rolling engagement of said grooved wheels over said rail, said protuberance preventing said wheels from moving transversely with respect to said rail, means to secure said rail to said support plane comprising a tape having two sides, said tape underlying said rail flange means and extending between the ends of the rail, said tape being coated on its two sides wi-th a pressure sensitive adhesive to secure one side of the tape to the support plane and to secure the second side of the tape to the rail, said adhesive being activated by exer-ting pressure on said tape between the rail and the support plane, and stop means secured to said rail intermediate the rail ends and said third and fourth wheels to delimit movement of said container forwardly and rearwardly along said rail.

7. A storage system for file cards and the like comprising; a file card storage container, rstand second wheels mounted on a first side of said container for rolling engagement with a support plane, third and fourth wheels mounted on a second side of said container and having a circumferential groove therein, a ra1l removably secured to said horizontal support plane and being adapted to engage said third and fourth wheels, said rail having flange means having an upper and a lower side and a central protuberance connected to said flange means, said lower side being generally planar and adapted to be secured to said support plane; said protuberance having a convexly arcuate shape generally complementary to the shape of said circumferential groove for rolling engagement of said groove wheels over said rail, said protuberance preventing said wheels from moving transversely with respect to said rail; means to secure said rail to said 5 support plane comprising a tape having two sides, said tape underlying said rail ange means and extending between the ends of said rail, said tape being coated on its two sides with a pressure sensitive adhesive to secure one side of the tape to the support plane and to secure the second side of the tape to the rail, said adhesive being activated by exerting pressure on said tape between the rail and the support plane, and stop means secured to said rail intermediate the rail ends and said third and fourth wheels to limit the movement of said container forwardly and rearwardly along said rail, said stop means comprising a pair of separate channels ixedly secured to the iiange means of said rail, said channels having a web running generally parallel to said rail, and a resilient stop of elastomeric material mounted on the upper portion of said web to resiliently engage the circumferentially grooved wheels, one of said channels being positioned to limit the travel of one wheel positioned adjacent one end of said rail away from said end and the other channel being spaced apart from the first being similarly adapted to limit the travel of the other grooved wheel away from its respective rail end.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Chapin et al 104-247 X Wright 104-135 Herold 10S-170 X Day 10S-27 Nagel et al. 117-685 Dritz 117-685 Lemcke 104-120 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

F. MONAGHAN, D. F. WORTH, Assistant Examiners.

Koster et al. --151 

1. A STORAGE SYSTEM FOR FILE CARDS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING; A STORAGE CONTAINER, FIRST AND SECOND ANTI-FRICTION MEANS CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID FIRST ANTIFRICTION MEANS COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND ROLLERS POSITIONED SUBJACENT ONE SIDE OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID ROLLERS HAVING A CIRCUMFERENTIAL GROOVE THEREIN, A RAIL MEANS REMOVABLY SECURED TO A FLOOR MEANS AND BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND TO MAINTAIN SAID FIRST ANTIFRICTION MEANS IN A PREDETERMINED PATH, SAID RAIL MEANS BEING SHAPED COMPLEMENTARY TO THE GROOVE OF SAID ROLLERS FOR ROLLING ENGAGEMENT OF THE ROLLERS OVER SAID RAIL MEANS, AND STOP MEANS FIXEDLY SECURED TO THE RAIL MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID ROLLERS TO LIMIT TRAVEL OF SAID CONTAINER ALONG SAID RAIL MEANS, SAID SECOND ANTIFRICTION MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO DIRECTLY ENGAGE SAID FLOOR MEANS AND TO TRAVEL IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS SAID FIRST ANTIFRICTION MEANS. 